Sunday, September 13, 2009

Four Layer Pudding Dessert (Family Recipes)

This recipe goes back quite a few years and I'm sure that many of you have made it or eaten it before. I was given this recipe about 1980 by a friend, who actually made it with pistachio pudding instead of chocolate. I've also eaten it made with banana pudding and cut up bananas, so it can be made according to what you're craving that day! I normally use the chocolate pudding as everyone in my family will eat it and we all love chocolate. This is a delicious, addictive dessert that was always requested at family gatherings or pot luck dinners at church. The first layer is a crisp crust made of flour, butter, and chopped pecans and it adds such a nutty, flaky layer to hold the rest of the dessert.The second layer is a yummy cream cheese layer and over that, the pudding. On top goes the rest of the whipped topping, or even whipped cream, if desired. I normally top that with some chocolate shavings, mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or some cocoa lightly sifted over the top, to give it a nice finish. It's so good and is one of my children's favorite desserts of their childhood!

FOUR LAYER PUDDING DESSERT (from Lynda's Recipe Box)

FIRST LAYER;

1 cup flour

1/2 cup chopped nuts, I use pecans

1 stick melted butter - 1/2 cup

Combine all ingredients in a bowl; scatter the crust mixture over the bottom of a 9x13 in baking pan and press together to form a crust. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Cool.

SECOND LAYER;

1 -8 ounce package cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

8 ounces of whipped topping, thawed ( like Cool Whip)

Mix together the cream cheese and sugar; then fold in the whipped topping. Place spoonfuls of this mixture all over the cooled crust. Gently spread out the cream cheese to cover the crust, taking care to not break the crust.

THIRD LAYER;

2 packages of instant chocolate pudding (or other flavor of choice)

3 cups of milk

Combine pudding mixes and milk and stir until well blended and thick. Spoon pudding over cream cheese layer and carefully spread it out.

Spread topping evenly over the pudding layer. Top with nuts, chocolate shavings or sifted cocoa, if desired. Refrigerate for several hours before serving. Enjoy!

I have such vivid memories of some of the delicious dishes that my Mother used to make. This dessert is a memory maker for my kids. I can remember them begging for " just one more piece, Mom"! I'm submitting this recipe to Shelby of The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch,and Laura, of The Spiced Life, for this months Family Recipes roundup. What's your favorite dessert from your childhood? Let me know in the comments!

This looks sooo yummmy! My favorite dessert from childhood is the same as now...ice cream! My dad used to let me have it for breakfast instead of a glass of milk. :-) I needed the calories back then but its hard to break the habit as I still have it for breakfast on occassion.

Lala, 1 stick of butter here is 4 ounces, or 1/4 pound, or 8 tablespoons, or 1/2 cup. The stick also says 113.4g. I hope this helps! I didn't think about so many different measures!Thanks for visiting.

Linda, My mother-in-law made this recipe for years and it it absolutely delicious! The only difference, she used Lorne Dune cookies(crushed) for the crust. She has passed away and I couldn't find the recipe and I have looked forever.I stumbled on to your site and I can't tell you how happy I was to find this recipe. I am planning on taking this dessert to a family reunion in June. Thank you ever so much! ~Roberta~

I use Oreo cookie crumbs for the crust and a package of vanilla pudding and a package of chocolate pudding with a little almond extract as the third layer. Also better if real whipped cream is used instead of Cool Whip. One of my most requested desserts.

I made this just a few weeks ago for the first time - the only difference was that I used a family-sized package of brownies (prepared and baked according to directions on the box) as the crust. It was amazing, and my husband was especially excited since he remembered it from his childhood.